National Christmas tree has local input

Posted: Friday, December 07, 2001

By Scott LindlawAssociated Press

WASHINGTON -- President Bush on Thursday dedicated the national Christmas tree to those who died on Sept. 11 and to GIs who have died in the line of duty. ''They will remain in our prayers,'' he said. Bush also granted federal workers a four-day holiday weekend for their efforts in responding to the attacks.

Among the decorations on this year's tree was an ornament designed and created by Judy Glenn, a teacher at Prince Avenue Christian School in Athens. The wooden ornament, designed as a memorial to the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S., features an angel holding American flags. Above the angel is a banner reading ''In God We Trust.''

The back of the ornament is inscribed with Glenn's favorite Bible verse, Romans 8:28, which reads, ''And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.''

Glenn's ornament made it to the tree through a chance encounter with a family friend in Washington, D.C., Roland McElroy. McElroy is executive director of the Christmas Pageant of Peace, the program that organizes the tree-lighting ceremony.

At Thursday night's lighting ceremony, the president said, ''This is a year we will not forget those who lost loved ones in the attacks on September the 11th and on the battlefield. They will remain in our prayers.''

A moment later, Laura Bush and two children who lost fathers at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 6-year-old Faith Elseth and 5-year-old Leon Patterson, flicked a switch illuminating dazzling blue lights and white stars on the Colorado blue spruce that stands permanently on the Ellipse just south of the White House.

The lighting was initially closed to the public as part of tightened security following the attacks, but security officials relented, allowing distribution of some 2,700 tickets to the public through the National Park Service. Another 2,700 were distributed through the administration and Congress. The White House is normally opened to holiday tours, but is shuttered to the public this year.

This year, the tree is topped with a red and white star and adorned in patriotic colors and symbols: 100,000 blue and white lights, oversized star ornaments, and red garland. Surrounding the tree are 56 smaller trees, representing all 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia. Glenn's ornament will be moved to the tree representing Georgia.

The administration took several steps to ensure the public will get a glimpse of the White House in holiday trim while it is closed for security reasons.

Laura Bush was taping a video tour of all the glitter to be shown at the nearby White House Visitors Center, and there was a new ''virtual tour'' on the White House Web site. The site has a 360-degree view of decorations in the ceremonial rooms.

Bush ordered the government to close on Christmas Eve, a Monday, so that workers can have that day off with pay and get a four-day weekend. He did give federal agency heads the authority to require some workers to report for duty for national security, defense or other reasons.

The president also scheduled a Hanukkah reception Monday evening in the White House residence. He and his wife plan to light Hanukkah candles on a 100-year-old menorah on loan from the Jewish Museum in New York, press secretary Ari Fleischer said.

Monday's is believed to be the first-ever Hanukkah reception in the residence, Fleischer said.